Speaker Device for a Vehicle

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a speaker device for a hands-free device in a vehicle, comprising at least one microphone ( 5 ) that is arranged on a guide element ( 6 ) encompassing a safety belt ( 4 ), wherein the guide element ( 6 ) is fixed to a free end ( 7.1 ) of a holding element ( 7 ), wherein a first line section ( 8.1 ) of a signal line and/or a supply line ( 8 ) of the microphone ( 5 ) is arranged along the holding element ( 7 ). According to the invention, one attachable end ( 7.2 ) of the holding element ( 7 ) that is opposite the free end ( 7.1 ) of the holding element ( 7 ), can be fixed in particular to a vehicle seat associated with the safety belt ( 4 ) by means of a detachable mechanical connection ( 9 ), wherein the connection ( 9 ) comprises at least one electric contact for the microphone ( 5 ).

The invention relates to a speaker device for a hands-free device in avehicle, comprising at least one microphone that is arranged on a guideelement encompassing a safety belt, wherein the guide element is fixedto a free end of a holding element, wherein a signal line and/or asupply line of the microphone are or is arranged or fixed along theholding element.

From the state of the art are known several hands-free devices forvehicles. The hands-free devices usually comprise at least onemicrophone and a loudspeaker.

DE 101 05 513 A1 thus for example describes a hands-free device, inwhich a loudspeaker that can be hooked with a hook to an upper edge sideof the B column of the vehicle, is connected to a microphone by means ofan arm. A guide bracket fastened to the arm comprises a safety belt, sothat the microphone is in the neck/chest region of a vehicle operatorwhen fastening the safety belt.

The invention is based on the object to provide an improved speakerdevice for a hands-free device in a vehicle compared to the state of theart.

The object is solved according to the invention by the characteristicsgiven in claim 1.

Advantageous further developments of the invention are the subject ofthe dependent claims.

The invention relates to a speaker device for a hands-free device in avehicle, comprising at least one microphone, which is arranged on aguide element encompassing a safety belt. The guide element is therebyfixed at a free end of a holding element, wherein a first line sectionof a signal line and/or of a supply line of the microphone are arranged.According to the invention, one attachable end of the holding elementthat is opposite the free end of the holding element, can be fixed inparticular to a vehicle seat associated with the safety belt by means ofa detachable mechanical connection, wherein the connection comprises atleast one electric contact for the microphone.

The speaker device is mounted in a particularly preferred manner at thevehicle seat in a detachable manner, so as not to affect a function ofthe safety belt, in particular of a belt slack in an advantageousmanner.

By means of the electric contact for the microphone integrated in amechanical connection, a stabilization of the electric contact, inparticular of cable ends of the signal line and/or supply line, isensured. In other words: The mechanical connection with integratedelectric contact serves for a continuous electrical contact.

For a simple and safe contacting of the microphone to the first linesection of the signal line and/or the supply line, the electric contactis conveniently formed as a plug-in contact, a clamping contact, aspring contact or a screw contact.

The detachable mechanical connection comprises at least twocorresponding connection elements in a possible embodiment, which can ina particular preferred manner be connected in a force-fit and form-fitmanner. The holding element with the microphone arranged on the guideelement can thereby be arranged at the backrest if necessary, inparticular attached or removed therefrom.

In a particularly preferred manner, a first connection element of thedetachable mechanical connection is arranged at the attachable end. Thefirst line section and/or supply line thereby ends in the firstconnection element in a particularly preferred manner.

A second connection element corresponding to the first connectionelement is preferably arranged at the vehicle seat, in which ends asecond line section of the signal line and/or supply line of themicrophone. The electric contacting of the microphone can be realized bythe mechanical connection of the two connection elements correspondingto each other, e.g. by plugging, screwing, latching.

One or several first connection elements is or are preferably arrangedin the interior vehicle space, in particular at further vehicle seats.The further first connection elements preferably serve to arrange andfasten several microphones of one or several hands-free devices, e.g.for a mobile telephone and/or for a speech control of a navigationsystem and/or of the mobile telephone.

In a possible embodiment, a number of the first connection elements cancorrespond to a number of second connection elements, whereby severalspeaker devices can be arranged, and fixed at different positions in theinterior vehicle space, e.g. for a passenger and/or occupant in the rearspace. Several first connection elements can also be arranged in theinterior vehicle space at different positions, wherein only one secondconnection element can be arranged in one for the first connectionelements, so that only one speaker device is given in the interiorvehicle space.

In a particularly simple and stable embodiment for the detachablemechanical connection, it is designed as a push button connection or aplug-in connection or a latch connection. Any other suitable type ofmechanical connection, as e.g. clamping or spring connections can alsobe provided.

In an advantageous manner, the holding element has a guide for thesignal line and/or the supply line. The guide is formed as a guide barin a possible embodiment. The guide can for example be fixed at theholding element or be included therein.

The holding element is formed of a flexible plastics or a suitabletextile material in a particularly preferred manner. A flexible plasticsor a textile material can be used hereby in a particularly preferredmanner, which adapts to a contour of the vehicle seat or a body of theperson when the safety belt is fastened.

For ensuring an optimal positioning of the microphone when the safetybelt is fastened, the holding element has a presettable length independence on a fixing point on the vehicle seat, wherein a belt slackof the safety belt is considered in a particularly preferred manner.

Furthermore, the holding element is optically covered by the safety beltin an advantageous manner when this is fastened.

The guide element is advantageously formed as a bracket, wherein thisencompasses the safety belt at least partially. By means of thisformation, the guide element with the microphone can be removed from thesafety belt without a large effort.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail by means ofdrawings.

It shows thereby:

FIG. 1 schematically a holding element arranged at the belt deflectionpoint and fixed in a detachable manner, with a microphone of ahands-free device arranged thereon, wherein the microphone is contactedelectrically via the detachable fastening, and

FIG. 2 schematically a rear side of a backrest of a vehicle seat with aholding element fixed at this in a detachable manner, wherein amicrophone arranged thereon is electrically contacted via the detachablefastening.

Parts corresponding to each other are provided with the same referencenumerals in all figures.

In FIG. 1 is shown a section of a backrest 1 of a vehicle seat and aperson 2 indicated as sitting thereon in a vehicle, not shown in detail.In a region laterally of a head rest 1.1, a belt deflection point 3 of asafety belt 4 is arranged without affecting its function.

The person 2 sitting on the vehicle seat has fastened the safety belt 4.The safety belt 4 is positioned laterally of the person 2.

A microphone 5 as part of a hands-free device is advantageously arrangedat the safety belt 4 as a speaker device. The speaker device is therebyprovided for a hands-free device e.g. for a mobile telephone and/or fora speech control of a navigation system arranged in the vehicle and/orof the mobile telephone. The hands-free device comprises a loudspeakerin manner not shown in detail, a transmission and/or reception unit of amobile telephone and/or of a navigation system.

The microphone 5 is fixed to a guide element 6. The guide element 6 isformed as a bracket, which encompasses the safety belt 4 at leastpartially in an advantageous manner. The microphone 5 can furthermore befixed to the guide element 6 in such a manner that is can be aligned tothe head, in particular the mouth of the person 2 sitting on the vehicleseat in its directional characteristic. The microphone 5 is for examplefixed in force-fit and/or material-fit manner on the guide element 6.

The guide element 6 is arranged in a fixed or detachable manner at afree end 7.1 of a holding element 7. In a particularly advantageousmanner, the guide element is 6 is formed in such a manner that thesafety belt 4 can be rolled up completely during a withdrawal.

A first line section 8.1 (dashed line) of a signal line and/or supplyline 8 is arranged at the microphone 5 for the voltage supply of themicrophone 5. An electrical contacting of the microphone 5 to the firstline section 8.1 of the signal line and/or supply line 8 can be realizedby means of a plug-in contact, a clamping contact, a spring contact or ascrew contact.

The first line section 8.1 of the signal line and/or the supply line 8of the microphone is arranged along the holding element 7. For this, aguide bar, not shown, is for example arranged at the holding element 7.

Alternatively to this, the first line section 8.1 of the signal lineand/or supply line 8 can be fixed in regular distances by loops arrangedat the holding element 7. The first line section 8.1 is guided throughthe lines for this.

An attachable end 7.2 of the holding element 7 opposite the free end 7.1is connected to the belt deflection point 3 in an advantageous manner. Afirst connection element 9.1 of a detachable mechanical connection 9,which comprises an electric contact of the microphone 5, is preferablyarranged at the attachable end 7.2. A cable end of the first partialsection 8.1 of the signal line and/or supply line preferably ends in thefirst connection element 9.1

A second connection element of the detachable connection 9, not shown,corresponding to the first connection element, is fixed at the vehicleseat, in particular at the belt deflection point 3 arranged there. Inthe second connection element ends a second partial section 8.2 shown inFIG. 2 of the signal line and/or supply line 8. The second partialsection 8.2 of the signal line or supply line 8 is thereby for exampledisposed at or in the vehicle seat.

By means of the detachable mechanical connection 7, the microphone 5 canpreferably be arranged at the safety belt 4 and be removed therefromwhen needed.

The detachable connection is formed in a force-fit and form-fit mannerin an advantageous manner. In the first connection element 9.1 and thesecond connection element are arranged contact elements, not shown indetail, which correspond to each other, by means of which the electriccontacting to the detachable connection 9 is produced. Thereby, e.g.contacts of at least one contact element can be rings that are arrangedin a coaxial manner, which are connected with counter contacts of thecorresponding contact element of the respective connection element in aconnected state.

In a possible arrangement, the in particular two-part detachableconnection, by means of which the holding element 7 can be fixed and theline sections 8.1 and 8.2 of the signal line and or supply line 8contact each other, is designed as a push button connection, a plug-inconnection, a screw or snap-on or clamping connection.

In a possible embodiment of the speaker device, several first connectionelements 9.1 can be arranged in the interior vehicle space, inparticular at vehicle seats, in order to arrange or fix further holdingelements 7 with microphones 5 of one or several speaker devices, e.g.for a mobile telephone and/or for a speech control of a navigationsystem.

Furthermore, several first connection elements 9.1 can be arranged atthe vehicle seats or in the interior vehicle space at differentpositions, wherein only a second connection element can be arranged inone of the first connection elements 9.1, so that only one speakerdevice is given in the interior vehicle space.

The holding element is advantageously formed of a flexible plastics or atextile material. The holding element 7 is thereby formed flexible in aparticularly preferred manner in such a manner that it adapts to thecontour of the vehicle seat or a body of a person 2 in a particularlyadvantageous manner.

The holding element 7 has a presettable length in order to position themicrophone 5 at a neck/chest region 2.1 of the person in an optimalmanner. The length can thereby be preset in dependence on thearrangement of the detachable connection 9. The attachable end 7.2 isfixed to the belt deflection point 3 and the holding element 7 lies on ashoulder region of the person 2 without disturbing when the safety belt4 is fastened corresponding to the guide of the safety belt 4.

By means of the presettable length of the holding element 7, the freeend 7.1 is in the neck/chest region 2.1 of the person 2 with the guideelement 6 fixed thereto and the microphone 5 arranged thereon.

The holding element 7 fixed by means of the detachable connection 9 isoptically covered by the safety belt 4 when it is fastened in aparticularly advantageous manner.

In FIG. 2 is depicted a further possible embodiment for arranging thedetachable connection 9.

The attachable end 7.2 of the holding element 7 is thereby fixed in adetachable manner at a rear side 1.2 of the backrest 1. The firstconnection element 9.1 is arranged at the attachable end 7.2 for this.The second connection element, which is not shown, corresponding to thefirst connection element, is arranged at the backrest 1. The secondguide section 8.2 of the signal line and/or supply line 8 is for examplearranged at the backrest 1, and disposed in the interior of the vehiclein its further course. The first line section 8.1 of the signal lineand/or supply line 8 is arranged at a bottom side of the holding element7.

Alternatively and/or additionally, one or several first connectionelements 9.1 can preferably be arranged at the backrest 1, in order toarrange several speaker devices of one or several hands-free devices inthe vehicle.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 Backrest

1.1 Head rest

1.2 Rear side

2 Person

2.1 Neck/chest region

3 Belt deflection point

4 Safety belt

5 Microphone

6 Guide element

7 Holding element

7.1 Free end

7.2 Attachable end

8 Supply line

8.1 First line section

8.2 Second line section

9 Detachable connection

9.1 First connection element

1. Speaker device for a hands-free device in a vehicle, comprising atleast one microphone (5) that is arranged on a guide element (6)encompassing a safety belt (4), wherein the guide element (6) is fixedto a free end (7.1) of a holding element (7), wherein a first linesection (8.1) of a signal line and/or a supply line (8) of themicrophone (5) is arranged along the holding element (7), characterizedin that one attachable end (7.2) of the holding element (7) that isopposite the free end (7.1) of the holding element (7) can be fixed inparticular to a vehicle seat associated with the safety belt (4) bymeans of a detachable mechanical connection (9), wherein the connection(9) comprises at least one electric contact for the microphone (5). 2.Speaker device according to claim 1, characterized in that thedetachable connection (9) comprises at least a first connection element(9.1) and a second connection element corresponding thereto.
 3. Speakerdevice according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a firstconnection element (9.1) is arranged at the attachable end (7.2) of theholding element (7), in which a cable end of the first line element(8.1) of the signal line and/or the supply line (8) ends.
 4. Speakerdevice according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a secondconnection element corresponding to the first connection element (9.1),in which a second line element (8.2) of the signal line and/or a supplyline (8) ends, is arranged at the vehicle seat.
 5. Speaker deviceaccording to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the detachableconnection (9) is formed in a force-fit and form-fit manner.
 6. Speakerdevice according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that one orseveral first connection elements (9.1) is or are arranged at a positionin the interior vehicle space.
 7. Speaker device according to one ofclaims 3 to 6, characterized in that a number of second connectionelements corresponding to the number of first connection elements (9.1)is provided.
 8. Speaker device according to one of claims 1 to 7,characterized in that the detachable connection (9) is a push buttonconnection or a plug-in connection or a snap-on connection.
 9. Speakerdevice according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that theholding element (7) for the line section (8.2) signal line and/or supplyline (8) has a guide.
 10. Speaker device according to one of claims 1 to9, characterized in that the holding element (7) is formed of a flexibleplastics or a textile material.
 11. Speaker device according to one ofclaims 1 to 10, characterized in that the holding element (7) has apresettable length.
 12. Speaker device according to one of claims 1 to11, characterized in that the holding element (7) is covered by thesafety belt (4) when it is fastened.
 13. Hands-free device according toone of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the guide element (6) isformed as a bracket, which encompasses the safety belt (4) at leastpartially.